New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-28


only six failed to do their duty to tho people
and the cause of reform, and the bin was saved.
And now what are the Republicans to expect
at tho very next crisis from the Prohibitionists
Our party is doing its very BEST regardless Of al,
selfish considerations Of policy, to pass the only
sensible and efficient reform measure possible. II
its hands are upheld by those who really be-
leve in removing the curse Of Incompetence
it will succeed. But at the very next battle
between the party which alone has aided this
great reform and the party which publicly and
secae city esl o,lscs and depends upon the rm-shop
and the groggcry, where shall We find our friends,
the Irohibitionists?
Did Governor Hill sec Mr. Hewitts Brooklyn
letter and insist that it be suppressedp Several
members OF the club assert that il was read to
him and that he declared that he would not at
tend the dinner If 1t were to be read. The Gov
ernor denies that he even knew that Mr. Hewitt
had written letter plain question Of veracty
is raised-or else question Of forSetfulness or OF
convenient shOrb memory.
According to Mayor Whitney, Brooklyn is
ruled by Brooklyn men who arc alive to her
interests. With truth he might have added
and to their own interests not least OF all.
Excise Commissioner Woodman proposes that
the bondSmen of the liquor dealers who violate
The excise laws should be prosecuted and the
bonds forfeited. This the intention Of the
law in requiring bonds. but it has never been
done. The giving Of bonds has been a farccal
proceeding under preceding Excise Boards. An in
vestigation a few years revealed the fact that
one LIQUOR dealer, with little or no property WAS
on the bonds Of forty other dealers. The present
board is doing a good work in reforming such
hat Ia Hn, nfl a.
lInquent' dealers prosecuted it will do much
TO stap violations of the excise laws.
Asscmblyman George z. Erwin makes pretty
good leader in an excited House.
In his speech in Brooklyn the other night
Controller Chaplin found much To say about
Washington and Lincoln rs practical politicians.
lie did not state. however, what would have
been their opinion, as practical politicians, of an
oniceholder who spends day week in looking
aft his Official duties and five days in the prose
cuton Of his private business.
Before the Bridge authorities extend their rail
way across Centre-st. so Us TO run longer trains
and carry more passene rs, they should take steps
to provide more room for the people who now
patr1nize their road The entrances and plat
orms. especially in the NewYork station, are de
safety. To extend the platform out over the
nth roadway would be, an easy matter and the
ovcrcrowdins which is now inevitable in the busy
hours would thus he done away. The width Of
he platform could readily be doubled. Additional
entrances are also needed. With increased facili-
lies the travel naturally increases But the
Bridge railroad now has all the passengers 1t can
han ,le Pciore arrangements are made for carry
M. more there should be provision for getting
them to the cars with comparative comfort.
Controller Iocw is doing q good work in In
yoStigaing the methods OF the civil district courts
The t, idcnce given on Saturday shows that
series OF petty extortions have been going on for
% long time in all these courts except three fee
Of 81 or 90 cents being demanded for issuing
processes. etc There is warrant Of law for
such CHARGES. and Controller Locw viii perform n
notable public service in putting a stop 10 these
practices.
At least one prohlbiuonisb speaker is frank
enough to avow his real sentiments. Tho Rev.
Mr.. Minsins is quoted saying that no wanted
no rum az all or free rum" Hence the alliance
II Lhird-party men and liquor dealers is plain
NO rum nj alp being out OF the question, free
rum is what both are after And yet the Pro
ibtionists talk about fayoiing restrictive lcrs-
lation.'
IL was n matter OF public not oriety last March
hat there was n grave ire ularity in n Civil
ser, ice examination in BROOKLYN and the annual
rcport Of the Ci,lI service Reform Association
naturally makes some criticisms upon this circum-
stance. Yet Mayor Whitney, when spoken TO
about the matter says: L don't know anything
about it. | never heard Of it, Is such n man
ft to be the Mayor of a great city? Is it not his
business TO know what the Civil Service Com
misSionels appointed by him arc doing? Such
ignorance is plain confession OF Incompetence.
Opponents Of the policy Of improving the canal
have been arguing in the Legislature tbab the days
II the canal are numbered, and that it will not
pay TO eXpend money on IL. Statistics
encctually refute such arguments. When the
canal is open this city is the centre Of the grain
radc when it is closed competing ports more
than hold their own. During the seven months
Of nayie ation last year the canal brought TO New
FORK 43,6l0.355 bushels Of grain and the rail-
roads 81 ,9s6.766 bushels Pool Commissioner
Fink test fled before the Senate Committee that
,hc canal governed the rates for shipment by ran
while H. WAS open. Its influence has made New
York the commercial metropolis and has enabled
this city and Brooklyn to pay good deal more
Than one-haf the State taxes, thus bringing Il
rrcct benefit 10 every county in the State. 1t
has also been great help TO all the interior cities
and there is hardly room for ar ument as TO the
necessity OF maintaining and improving it to the